Using a Q-Chart

Using a Q-Chart

As educators, we often take the role of a facilitator who asks thought provoking questions intended to lead students to discover knowledge on their own. Depending on the ability of the individual student, we should frame our questions differently to maximize their chances for success and opportunities for growth.

A Questions Chart, or Q-chart, is a great tool to help frame questions. It works by starting the questions with a word from the left column followed by a word from the top row and then a phrase related to the content you are questioning.

The Q-Chart can be divided into four quadrants based on the type of depth of question being asked.

They are:

Factual

Predicting

Analytical, and

Synthesis and Application

As you move down and to the right, a higher order thinking is required from our students.

Let's try it. Print a blank Q-Chart and create a series of questions relating to a piece of your content. Try to create at least one question for each of the four quadrants. Remember, the further down and to the right we go, the deeper the level of student understanding.